U.S. patent number 4,035,089 [Application Number 05/625,669] was granted by the patent office on 1977-07-12 for mechanism for varying the finger grip area of a writing implement.
Invention is credited to Richard E. Frenkel, Allan E. Schwartz.
United States Patent |
4,035,089 |
Schwartz , et al. |
July 12, 1977 |
Mechanism for varying the finger grip area of a writing
implement
Abstract
The mechanism for varying the diameter of a body in accordance
with this invention is defined by a mechanism in which the grip
area intended for expansion comprises a plurality of compressible
O-ring elements supported by a cylindrical body section and spaced
apart by spacer elements. A stationary end plate which may be
formed by the tip portion of a writing implement, forms an abutment
against which an end O-ring will be forced for compression. An
axially movable adjustment member is also carried on the
cylindrical body for engagement with the opposite end O-ring so
that as the adjustment member is moved toward the abutment member
the plurality of O-rings therebetween will be compressed so that
their cross-sectional shapes will be deformed from circular to
elliptical thus enlarging the overall outside diameter of the grip
portion.
Inventors: |
Schwartz; Allan E. (Yonkers,
NY), Frenkel; Richard E. (Scarsdale, NY) |
Family
ID: |
26992391 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/625,669 |
Filed: |
October 24, 1975 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
341157 |
Mar 14, 1973 |
3915021 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/6; 74/551.9;
15/443; 294/86.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23B
31/40 (20130101); B25G 1/00 (20130101); B43K
7/00 (20130101); B43L 15/00 (20130101); Y10T
74/20828 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B25G
1/00 (20060101); B23B 31/40 (20060101); B23B
31/00 (20060101); B43K 7/00 (20060101); B43L
15/00 (20060101); B43K 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;401/6 ;273/81R,75
;15/144.5,443,444 ;145/61R,29 ;294/86.24 ;74/551.9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Charles; Lawrence
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dresner; Arthur
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE
This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No.
341,157, filed on Mar. 14, 1973, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,021.
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A writing implement having an outer casing, a substantially
cylindrical main body portion, means carried within said body
portion for producing legible markings and having a writing tip
exposed at one end of said body portion, said body portion having
an area of reduced diameter to accommodate thereon a finger grip
section, said finger grip section comprising a plurality of
compressible "O"-ring members axially aligned along said main body
portion, a plurality of annularly shaped spacer elements carried on
said main body portion and located between adjacent "O"-ring
members, said spacer elements having an inside diameter
approximately equal to the outside diameter of said reduced
diameter area of said body portion so as to be supported thereon
and having a flange and curved transition surfaces between said
flange and the major surface of said element on both sides thereof,
thus forming a contoured cross-sectional shape, said transition
surface having a radius of curvature approximately equal to the
cross-sectional radius of said "O"-rings forming a supporting
socket therefore which has a shape complementary with the
circumferential shape of adjacent "O"-ring members to provide
support therefore, first and second abutment members carried on
said body section and located on opposite sides of said finger grip
section, one of said abutment members being axially movable toward
and away from the other abutment member to effect compression of
said "O"-ring members when said movable abutment member is moved
toward the other abutment member so that the radial distance
between said body section and the circumference of said "O"-ring
members is increased when said abutment member is moved in one
direction and decreased when said abutment member is moved in the
other direction, thus varying the diameter of said finger grip
section.
2. The writing implement according to claim 1 wherein said movable
abutment member comprises a barrel, the outer surface of which
forms a part of the outer casing of said writing implement, said
barrel having an abutment surface at one end thereof for engaging
said finger grip section and being internally threaded for meshing
engagement with external threads carried on said main body portion,
so that upon rotation of said barrel said abutment surface will be
axially moved toward and away from said finger grip section to
increase and decrease respectively the compressive forces applied
to said finger grip section, whereupon the outer diameter of said
finger grip section will increase and decrease respectively.
3. The writing implement according to claim 2, wherein said other
abutment member comprises a substantially conically shaped tip
member having a central bore aligned with said cylindrical main
body portion to house therein said writing tip of said means for
producing legible markings, said conically shaped tip member having
an abutment surface axially opposed to the abutment surface of said
movable abutment member so that said finger grip section will be
positioned therebetween.
4. The writing implement according to claim 1 wherein each of said
"O"-ring members have the same outside diameter and cross-sectional
diameter.
5. A mechanism for varying the diameter of a finger grip area on a
writing implement, said writing implement having a main body
portion, an ink cartridge carried within said main body portion
having a writing tip extending beyond said body portion, a
substantially conically shaped tip member connected at one end to
said main body portion, said mechanism comprising a plurality of
equally sized deformable "O" rings carried on said main body
portion, the outer surface of said "O" rings forming said finger
grip area, annular spacer elements carried on said main body
portion and positioned between said "O" rings, each of said spacer
elements comprising a disc having a central bore so as to be
carried on said main body portion and a contoured outer
circumferential surface, said contoured surface having a radius of
curvature approximately equal to the cross-sectional radius of said
"O"-ring elements so that adjacent "O"-ring elements will fit
within said area of curvature complementarily within said contoured
surface of said spacer element, said contoured surface being
located on both sides of said element so that said spacer elements
provide a socket for supporting thereon said "O"-ring elements, and
an adjustment barrel carried on said cylindrical body for axial
movement therealong to apply an axial force on said "O" rings
causing compression thereof and deformation of each of said
"O"-ring elements to vary the diameter of said finger grip area,
said conically shaped tip forming an abutment stop to engage one of
said "O"-ring elements at an axial end of said plurality when said
axial force is applied thereto.
6. The mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said adjustment
barrel carries internal threads for meshing engagement with
external threads carried on said main body portion so that upon
rotation thereof said adjustment barrel will be moved axially along
said main body portion for applying said axial force.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the area of hand-held devices,
such as tools, sporting equipment, household and garden equipment,
or to other generally cylindrical bodies, but more specifically to
writing implements having a finger grip area and a mechanism for
varying the diameter of the finger grip area of the writing
implement in order to make the finger grip area more comfortable
for use.
Although the mechanism forming the subject of the present invention
is specifically directed to means for varying the diameter of the
finger grip area of writing implements, it is also useful for
varying the diameter of any substantially cyclindrical body whether
it be useful as a writing implement or not. For example, the
diameter of rollrs which may be used as guide means in sheet
feeding or web feeding apparatus' such as printing or reproducing
devices, may be varied through the use of this mechanism. In such
cases additional means may be provided remote from the body for
effecting the required adjustments.
Various hand-held tools or appliances are typically manufactured
with a single standard grip for handles size as the manufacture of
a variety of sizes which would comfortably fit the infinite sizes
of the hand for different people would be excessively costly and
probably confusing to the consumer. However, the use of a tool
would be rendered more efficient if the handle size would be
designed to fit the hand of its particular user. Only in a select
few areas such as tennis rackets are a variety of grip or handle
sizes available to the consumer. Even in this area however, a large
number of grip sizes must be stocked by the supplier so that the
consumer will have his choice. It would be of significant advantage
if the supplier's stock would be standardized so that only a single
handle or grip with a means for varying the size of the handle so
as to comply with the particular consumer's requirements could be
stocked Other areas of sports would suggest the desirability of
varying the handle sizes, such as in golf, fishing rods, ski pole
handles, poles used in pole vaulting, etc.. It appears, however,
that varieties of handle sizes in these areas have not been made
available to the consumer and it is accordingly one object of the
present invention to provide a convenient and easy means for
providing a variable handle or grip size to the sportsman in any
sports activity where the sporting implement is to be
hand-held.
An almost infinite number of uses for such a mechanism can be
envisioned. It will be appreciated that any hand-held tool or
device having a handle or grip may be provided with a mechanism for
varying the size of that handle or grip so that it may be more
comfortably and efficiently used for its intended purpose. Such
tools such as trowels, hammers, screw drivers, socket wrenches,
chisels, soldering irons, hacksaws, woodsaws, wrenches, etc., would
be particular tools where variable diameter handles would be quite
useful and advantageous. Electric hand-held tools such as electric
drills, saws, hedge trimmers, etc. may also be provided with such a
mechanism. A variety of household appliances such as irons, razor
blade handles, electric knives, hand-held hair-dryers, electric
toothbrushes, cooking utensils, pot handles, etc. are also devices
which would be rendered more attractive and useful to the consumer
if supplied with the simple mechanism according to the present
invention for varying its size. A variety of medical equipment,
such as surgeons and dentists tools would be more useful when
supplied with the added facility of varying its handle size.
The mechanism of the present invention has been found to be most
desirable for varying the size of the grip on writing implements.
The use of such a mechanism is writing implements is of particular
interest since many of these are already provided in a variety of
diameter sizes. The provision of such means in a writing implement
will also serve to lessen the effects of writing fatigue by
providing the user with means for varyng the size of the finger
grip area.
It is accordingly the general object of the present invention to
provide a simple and easy to use mechanism which may be
incorporated in any handle or grip intended for hand-held use so as
to vary its size in order to fit the hand more comfortably.
It is a futher object of the present invention to provide a means
for varying the grip on the handle of a sporting implement, tool
implement or household appliance intended for hand-held use without
removing the handle from implement, tool or apparatus.
It is another and more specific object of the invention to provide
a mechanism for varying the finger grip size of various types of
writing implements.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a mechanism
for varying the diameter of a grip or cylindrical body by simple
rotation of an element of said mechanism which is conveniently
accessible from the exterior of the handle.
The above object, features and advantages, along with other
objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the detailed description of the
invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings to be
described more fully hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention may be
accomplished by providing a mechanism carried within a generally
hollow handle or cylindrical body having wall plates for defining
the wall structure of the handle or body and which are arranged for
radial movement. A shaft (or sleeve) is carried within the hollow
portion of the handle being axially arrranged therein and is
provided with external theads along a portion of its length. An
expander assembly is carried on the threaded portion of the shaft
by an internally threaded ring and engages the wall plates. A means
for engaging the shaft so as to cause rotation thereof within the
handle is provided so that rotational movement may be imparted
thereto and is carried by the handle or by the cylindrical body.
Upon rotation of the shaft, the portion of the expander element
which is carried by the threaded portion of the shaft will be
axially moved along the shaft and the expander will be caused to
exert radial pressure against the walls so as to expand them and
increase the diameter of the handle or body. The expander assembly
is attached to the wall plates so that upon rotation of the shaft
in the opposite direction, an inward radial force will be exerted
on the walls by a collapsing movement of the expander so as to
decrease the diameter of the outer walls. A very simple
construction of the mechanism according to the invention is
achieved when the expander assembly comprises at least two flex
elements substantially bow-shaped, and attached at one end thereof
to an internally threaded ring carried on the threaded shaft,
attached as its other end to a sliding ring, arranged for movement
over the unthreaded portion of the shaft with the central portion
of the bow secured to opposite wall plates. The diameter of the
body can easily be varied by simply causing rotational movement of
the shaft which will result in flexing of the flex elements either
inwardly or outwardly so as to cause pressure to act against the
wall plates.
Another further desirable embodiment of the present invention is
particularly suited for use in handles or hollow bodies having
non-circular cross-sections. Of particular interest would be a
handle having an octagonal cross-sectional shape such as is
typically found in tennis rackts. The handle would include two
opposed plate members forming the handle body and radially movable
with respect to each other. A sleeve or shaft arranged for
rotational movement within the handle is axially carried therein
and the expander element carried on the shaft and engaging the
opposed wall plates comprises an elliptically-shaped body. The
opposed vertices of the elliptical body engage opposite walls
within the handle. Upon rotation of the shaft the elliptical body
will be caused to rotate so that the vertices of the elliptical
body will be moved from one point on the wall plate to another
position on the wall plate. When the body is housed within an
octagonal handle the different points of the wall will be located
at different radial positions from the center of the handle so that
the body will cause the plates to be moved radially with respect to
the center of the handle thus changing the diameter of the
handle.
A still further desirable embodiment of the present invention
finding particular application in writing implements, but useful in
the other areas referred to above, is defined by a mechanism in
which the grip area intended for expansion comprises a plurality of
compressible O-ring elements supported by a cylindrical body
section and spaced apart by spacer elements. A stationary end
plate, which may be formed by the tip portion of a writing
implement, forms an abutment against which an end O-ring will be
forced for compression. An axially movable adjustment member is
also carried on the cylindrical body for engagement with the
opposite end O-ring so that as the adjustment member is moved
toward the abutment member the plurality of O-rings supported on
the cylindrical body therebetween will be compressed against each
other so that their cross-section shape will be deformed from
circular to elliptical, thus enlarging the overall outside diameter
of the grip portion. This particular embodiment has a number of
distinct advantages in that the size of the grip area may be
readily varied, the degree of compressibility can be changed so as
to increase or decrease the range of expansion available with a
particular set of O-rings, and it is relatively inexpensive, easy
to assemble, easy to use and presents an overall attractive
arrangement for the user.
The foregoing and other features of the mechanism for expanding the
diameter of a body and the various elements of the present
invention are more fully described with reference to the following
drawings annexed hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present
invention as applied to a hand-held tool for varying the diameter
of its grip;
FIG. 2 is also a sectional view of a handle or substantially
cylindrical member with the same mechanism for expanding the
diameter thereof as shown in FIG. 1 with means for adjusting said
mechanism through a right angle section;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a substantially curved
cyclindrical body or handle with the same embodiment for expanding
the diameter thereof as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with means for
adjusting said mechanism through said curved handle;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines IV-IV of FIG. 5
showing another embodiment of the invention for varying the
diameter of a handle or cylindrical body;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines V-V of FIG. 4 showing
the mechanism of FIG. 4 in one operative position;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the
mechanism of FIG. 4 for expanding the diameter of the handle in
another operative position;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of the present
invention as applied to another type of hand-held tool;
FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing one means of adjusting
the mechanism according to the invention;
FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view showing a writing implement
having means for expanding its finger grip area;
FIG. 10. is a perspective view showing one detail of the writing
implement shown in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a writing implement having
additional means forming a further embodiment of the present
invention for expanding its finger grip area;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of various elements
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 shows in schematic representation, the before and after
representation of the expander mechanism shown in FIG. 11; and
FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of remote control adjustment
means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one type of
hand-held tool, particularly a screwdriver, having a handle 10 and
a shank 11 which would carry the tool implement such as a
screwdriver tip or other such implement like a socket. The shank 11
may be secured to a neck 13 and provided with an internally
threaded area 14. The handle 10 is generally hollow and carries a
bolt 15 axially extending the length of the handle. The bolt has an
externally threaded portion 16 whcih is arranged for engagement
with internal threads 14 on the shank so that the handle may be
secured to the shank. The handle is provided with upper and lower
supports blocks 17 and 18 respectively. These blocks may be formed
of pre-molded plastic material. The cross-sectional shape of the
handle may be circular, octagonal, or other convenient shape. In
any event, the walls of the handle are supported by wall plates 19
which conform to the cross-sectional shape of the handle. A hollow
metal sleeve 20 is centrally and axially arranged through the
handle 10. Upper block 17 has a partial bore 27 for accommodating
the sleeve and lower block 18 has a bore 28 through which the
sleeve passes. The bolt 15 is carried within the sleeve 20 and is
journalled between teflon O-ring bearings 20 and 30. A roll pin or
flange 25 is carried by bolt 15 and engages a shoulder 37 of bore
27 so as to prevent axial movement of bolt 15 when it is secured to
the shank 11. The sleeve 20 has an externally threaded portion 21.
An expander assembly is carried on the threaded portion of the
sleeve for expanding the external diameter of the handle. The
expander assembly exerts a force on wall plates 19 which will exert
pressure on flexible grip 22 thus varying the outer dimension of
grip area of the handle.
The expander assembly comprises at least two flex elements 31 and
32 for expanding the handle in at least two directions. Additional
flex elements may be carried on the sleeve so as to expand the size
of the handle in additional directions. Each flex element,
prefereably bow shaped and made of spring steel is connected at one
end to an axially movable slide ring 33 at its center to plates 19,
and the other end to an internally threaded ring 34 which is in
engagement with the external threads on the sleeve. The flex
elements may be secured to the wall plates, slide ring and threaded
ring such as by spot welding or riveting.
Sleeve 20 has a slot 35 at one end thereof which is exposed through
bore 28. Rotation of the sleeve 20 may be effected by applying a
tool to the slotted end 35 and rotating the tool while in the
slot.
Alternative means for causing rotation of the sleeve 20 and bolt 15
may be carried by the sleeve and bolt directly as shown in FIG. 8.
A bolt removal key 91 is pivotally carried at the end of bolt 15
and may be recessed within enlarged diameter portion 93 of sleeve
20. The sleeve 20 carries an adjustment key 92 which may be carried
in recess 94 of support block 18 when not in use.
Upon such rotation, in one direction, threaded ring 34 will be
caused to axially move along sleeve 20 in a direction away from the
slotted end of the sleeve. This is a result of the bowed portion of
the flex elements being secured to the wall plates. Simultaneously,
slide ring 33 will slide along the unthreaded portion of the sleeve
in a direction opposite to that of ring 34. As a result, flex
elements 31 and 32 will be caused to exert an outward pressue
against the wall plates thus expanding the outside dimensions of
the handle. Upon rotation of the sleeve in the opposite direction
internally threaded ring 34 will move in a direction toward the
slotted end 35 of sleeve 20 and slide ring 33 will move in a
opposite direction, thus causing flex elements 31 and 32 to exert
an inwardly directed pressure on the wall plates, thus resulting in
collapsing of the flex elements and a decrease in the outside
dimension of the handle.
In FIG. 2, an L-shaped handle 40 is provided with the expander
mechanism in one leg 41 of the handle only. Leg 41 is attached via
means of screws 42 to an instrument or tool shaft 43. The screws 42
are shown broken away so as not to interfere with a clear
understanding of the expander mechanism, and are provided with ends
42' which are externally threaded so as to engage internally
threaded slots 44 provided within the handle body so as to provide
securement means.
The handle is provided with a grip 22 as in FIG. 1, and a similar
expander mechanism comprising rotatably carried sleeve 20 with
threaded portion 21, flex elements 31 and 32 carried on slide rings
33 and 34 are provided within leg 41 of the handle 40. A solid
shaft may be provided instead of hollow sleeve 20. The bowed-out
portions of the flex elements 31 and 32 are secured to wall plates
19. The rotation of the sleeve 20 so as to effect expansion of the
handle portion 41 is effected through the gear and shaft
arrangement carried within leg portion 45 of the handle 40. A first
shaft 46 is axially oriented with respect to sleeve 20 and carries
a key 47 for engaging slotted-end 35 of the sleeve. A molded
bearing may be provided for journalling the shaft 46. A first
beveled gear 49 is carried at the end of shaft 46 opposite the key
47. A second shaft 51 is carried within leg 45 being supported by
molded bearing 48 and an end adjusting nut 52. A second beveled
gear 50 is carried at the end of shaft 51 remote from the nut 52
and in engagement with the first beveled gear 49. As a result of
adjustment of end nut 52, which may be effected by use of a key
such as shown in FIG. 8, rotational movement may be imparted to
shaft 51 and transmitted through the beveled gear arrangement 49,
50 to shaft 46 so as to cause rotational movement of the sleeve 20
thus effecting expansion of the leg 41 of L-shaped handle 40.
FIG. 3 shows another type of handle which is curved such as might
be used on an umbrella. The handle 60 has a portion 61 which is
usually held by the user of the umbrella. It is to this portion
which the expander assembly is applied. Two screws 62 shown broken
away, have threaded ends and are secured in internally threaded
slots 63 of the molded handle body 64 for securing the handle to
the umbrella shaft 65. Like parts of the expander assembly are
designated by like reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 and
further explanation is not believed necessary. It should be noted
however that a solid shaft 20' is employed instead of sleeve 20. A
flexible shaft 66 is carried in the curved portion of the handle
and is provided with a key 67 for engaging the slotted end 35 of
the sleeve 20. The flexible shaft is supported at the other end of
the handle by adjusting nut 68 and upon adjustment thereof rotation
will be imparted to the flexible shaft so as to transmit rotation
to the sleeve and effect adjustment of the outer diameter of the
handle portion 61.
FIG. 7 shows the application of the expander using the rotating
sleeve as applied to the handle 70 of a hand saw. In this
embodiment only the rear surface 71 of the handle will be effected
by expansion or contraction of the flex element 31 as only this
single flex element is provided. The rotating sleeve 20 is
supported between handle bodies 72 and 73. The handle body 73 has a
bore 74 for accommodating the sleeve and handle body 72 has a bore
75 for accommodating the other end of the sleeve. The single flex
element is carried on rings 33 and 34 and is secured at its
bowed-out portion to the wall plate 19 at 76. As in the previous
embodiments, a flexible grip 22 covers the hand-held area of the
handle. Finger guard 78 enclosing the finger space 79 is hingedly
connected to handle body portion 73 at one end thereof and secured
in place at its other end by screw 80. The finger guard may be
lowered by removing screw 80 thus allowing removal of the grip 22
and replacement thereof if necessary.
A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4,
5 and 6. This embodiment is particularly suited for use in
non-circular cross-sectional handles or bodies such as a typical
tennis racket havin an octagonal handle. FIG. 5 shows such a handle
in cross-sectional view. The handle body is substantially hollow
and is supported by wall plates 81 and 82. The usual grip covering
of 22 is carried by the handle. A sleeve or shaft 83 is axially
supported within the hollow handle and has a slotted end 84 exposed
at one end of the handle. Rotation of the sleeve may be effected by
application of an appropriate tool within slot 84. A key, such as
key 91 carried by bolt 15 in FIG. 8 may also be carried by shaft 83
for effecting rotatiion thereof instead of slotted end 84. An
expander element 85 is carrid by the sleeve 83. The expander
element 85 is substantially elliptical in cross-section with its
vertices 86 and 87 engaging opposite wall plates 81 and 82
respectively. Upon rotation of the sleeve 83 the expander element
85 will rotate in the same direction acting on opposite wall plates
81 and 82 in a cam-like manner. FIG. 6 shows the handle in its
unexpanded position with the vertices 86 and 87 of the expander
element located within opposite angles of the octagonal
cross-sectional handle. Upon rotation of sleeve 83, the expander
element may be moved to the position shown in FIG. 5 with vertices
86 and 87 located adjacent opposite parallel sides which in the
position of FIG. 6 are located closer to the center of the handle
so that the handle is spread apart upon movement to the position of
FIG. 5.
Additional means may be provided such as spring elements between
wall plates 81 and 82 so as to cause the opposite sides. of the
handle to move together upon subsequent rotation of the expander
element back to the position shown in FIG. 6.
The expander element 85 may be formed by a series of cam-like
expander elements rather than a single extended element. FIG. 4
shows two such elements.
In FIG. 9, there is shown a writing implement 95 having an upper
casing 96 and a lower casing 97. The lower casing 97 is connected
to tip 100 by struts 97' as shown in FIG. 10. The upper and lower
casings having external and internal threads respctively for
joining one to the other in the typical well-known fashion. The
implement may be provided with the typical spring-loaded ink
cartridge 98. A finger grip area 99 is carried by the lower casing
97 between struts 97' and is provided with at least two movable
walls 101 and 102 arranged similar to wall plates 81 and 82 of
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 having octagonal internal surface while the
outside surface is substantially circular. A hollow sleeve 103 is
axially supported within the casing and carries the ink cartridge.
An expander element 85 is carried by the sleeve 103. The expander
85 is elliptical as described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6
and upon rotation of the sleeve 103 will exert pressure on walls
101 and 102 to cause variation of its diameter. An additional
expander 85' may be provided in the tapered section of the finger
grip area. Sleeve 103 has a knurled end 104 to facilitate causing
rotation. Thus a writing implement is provided having means for
varying the diameter of the finger grip area.
FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 show another form of an expander mechanism
also useful in writing implements and having a number of advantages
over the other embodiments described herinabove. For example, in
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 through 13 the requirement for
movable wall plates is eliminated and the use of complicated
structural elements such as the flex elements or cam members shown
in the previous embodiments is avoided. Additionally the present
embodiment insures uniform expansion of the grip area in all radial
directions so that use will be more practical and more
desirable.
The writing implement 105 of this embodiment includes an upper
casing 106 and a lower casing 107. The lower casing 107 has a
cylindrical body portion 108 of reduced diameter for supporting
thereon the compressible O-ring members to be defined more fully
hereinafter. One end of the body section 108 is threaded for
removeably carrying thereon a tip 110 of conventional design and
configuration having a central bore 11 for accommodating
therethrough the typical ink cartridge 112. Lower casing 107 also
has a central bore 113 which will be aligned with the cenral bore
11 of the tip 110 when the tip 110 is assembled with the body
section 108, so that the ink cartridge 112 will be accommodated
therein in the typical manner. The ink cartridge has the usual
abutment means 114 so that the usual compression spring 115 will
urge the cartridge into a retracted position to allow a retraction
mechanism carried in the upper casing 106 (not shown and forming no
part of the present invention) to cause the cartridge to be
withdrawn in the body section so that the exposed tip 112' of the
ink cartridge can be withdrawn into the central bore of the tip
110.
The upper casing 106 may be detachably secured to the lower section
107 to form a completed writing implement assembly by threaded
sections 106' and 107' respectively.
A plurality of compressible O-ring members 116, 117, 118, 19 et seq
are carried on the cylindrical body section of reduced diameter
108. A plurality of spacer elements 120 having an inside diameter
approximately equal to or slightly greater than the outside
diameter of reduced body section 108 is slidably carried thereon
for supporting each of the O-rings and providing adequate spacing
between them. Each spacer element comprises a collar 121 having a
central bore 122 and a flange 123. The transition between the
flange 123 and the collar 121 has a radius of curvature 124
approximately equal to the cross-sectional radius of the O-rings so
as to form a socket or a seat for the O-rings.
An axially movable adjustment barrel 130 is carried on the body
section 108. In the embodiment shown herein, the adjustment barrel
130 has internal threads 131 for mating engagement with external
threads 132 carried on the body section 108 so that axial movement
of the barrel section 130 can be affected by rotation thereof.
Axial movement of the adjustment barrel 130 in the direction of tip
110 will cause the plurality of O-ring members 116, which is
carried on the body section 108 located between the adjustment
barrel 130 and tip 110, to become compressed. The O-ring member 116
located adjacent the tip 110 will be abutting against surface 127
forming an abutment end of the tip, while the O-ring member
adjacent the adjustment barrel 130 will be abutting abutment end
134 of the barrel.
The exposed surface (extending through angle .alpha. -- see FIG.
12) of each O-ring forms the finger area of the writing implement.
In effect therefore the user of the writing implement will be
contacting the O-ring elements themselves which present a bumpy or
non-slip surface which is both comfortable to use and as understood
expandable.
In order to vary the outside diameter of the finger grip area
(indicated by reference numeral 135) the adjustment barrel 130 will
be rotated in one direction so that its abutment end 134 will be
caused to move in a direction toward the abutment end 127 of tip
110, thus compressing each of the O-ring members located
therebetween and varying its cross-sectional shape from circular in
an uncompressed state in elliptical when fully compressed. The
degree of compression determines the degree of elliptical shape.
The greater the compression the greater the large diameter of the
elipse of each O-ring until it reaches a fully compressed
state.
FIG. 13 illustrates the compression effect of the various O-rings.
On the right side of the figure O-rings 116 through 119 are shown
in their uncompressed state with their cross-sectional shape fully
circular with the overall diameter of the grip portion indicated at
135. The left side of the figure shows the condition of the same
O-ring members when compressed thus having an elliptical
cross-section and the overall diameter of the grip area 135 having
been enlarged.
FIG. 14 schematically shows means for adjusting the expander which
may be carried in a cylinder for varying the diameter of a body,
such as may be used in a printing press, brake drums, etc.
Expandible wall plates 206 and 207 would be carried within the
cylinder. Shaft 208 is rotatably arranged within the wall plates
and carries an expander mechanism such as elements 85 previously
described or attached to adjustment barrel 130 of FIG. 11. Upon
rotation of shaft 208 the expanders will exert a force upon the
wall plates to vary the diameter of the cylindrical body. A motor
209 may be housed within the cylinder, or otherwise conveniently
mounted so that its output shaft 210 is coupled to shaft 208 in
order to cause rotation thereof. The motor may be energized by a
remote sensor 211 which may be actuated by a variety of external
stimuli.
While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect
to certain embodiments which give satisfactory results, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the
purpose of the invention that various other changes and
modifications may be made without department from the spirit and
scope of the invention, and it is therefore intended in the
appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.
* * * * *